Rainbow Connection (CAN)
April 17, 1978 – May 8, 1994
Halo (USA) x Hangin Round (USA), by Stage Door Johnny (USA)
Family 14-b
April 17, 1978 – May 8, 1994
Halo (USA) x Hangin Round (USA), by Stage Door Johnny (USA)
Family 14-b
Not many mares become champions both on the track and in the breeding shed, but Rainbow Connection did just that. A two-time champion in Canada as a racehorse, she went on to earn Canadian Broodmare of the Year honors in 1994. The award was bittersweet as she died that same year, but her descendants have bred on with some distinction.
Race record
30 starts, 7 wins, 7 seconds, 0 thirds, US$382,126 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1980:
1981:
1982:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1980, 1 pound below champion Heavenly Cause and tied with multiple Grade 1 winner Prayers'n Promises.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 2-year-old fillies, 6 pounds above Eternal Search, Happy Homemaker, and Muskoka Weekend.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1981, 11 pounds below highweighted Kilijaro and 9 pounds below divisional champion De La Rose.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old fillies of 1981, 5 pounds above Eternal Search and Happy Homemaker.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1981, 8 pounds below divisional champion Ben Fab.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1982, 16 pounds below champion April Run.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1982, 16 pounds below divisional champion and Canadian Horse of the Year Frost King.
As an individual
A bay mare, Rainbow Connection was at her best around two turns and was at home on both dirt and turf.
As a producer
Rainbow Connection produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Rainbow Connection was bred by Mrs. T. Coker and was owned by R. C. Edgar. She was trained by Gerald W. Belanger Jr. As a broodmare, she was initially owned by Warner L. Jones Jr. (Hermitage Farm) and William S. Farish III, the partnership that bred her first four foals. She was later owned by Sam-Son Farms, which purchased the mare for US$900,000 from the 1987 dispersal of Jones’s bloodstock, in foal to Lyphard. Rainbow Connection died of complications of foaling on May 8, 1994.
Pedigree notes
Rainbow Connection is inbred 4x5 to the important broodmare Banish Fear and 5x5 to the great English producer Selene, considered the champion of her crop in England at ages 2 and 3. She is a full sister to Rainbow Two, second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner City to City and a half sister to Hangin on a Star (by Vice Regent), who won the 1987 Breeders’ Stakes (third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and two other stakes races before becoming the dam of 1993 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Comet Shine (by Fappiano) and Misty Mission (by Miswaki), who took the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Wonder Where Stakes, in 2000. Hangin on a Star is also the second dam of two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission and Grade 3 winners French Beret and Patience Game and the third dam of Grade 2 winners Mission of Joy and Time to Dazzle.
Returning to Rainbow Connection, she is also a half sister to 1981 King Edward Gold Cup Handicap winner Mr. Macho (by Ruritania) and to Archdeacon (by Dancing Champ), winner of the 1983 Prince of Wales Stakes (second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown). The siblings were produced from 1980 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Hangin Round, a half sister to the minor stakes winner New Pride (by Julmar; dam of stakes winner Baldski’s Pride, by Baldski). Hangin Round is also a half sister to All Puffed Up (by Dynastic), dam of the minor stakes winner Dyna Surge (by Plastic Surgeon).
Hangin Round and her siblings are out of Auburn’s Pride, a daughter of 1954 English champion older male Aureole (by Hyperion) and 1957 Sandown Park Stud Produce Stakes winner Patroness (by 1946 Prix du Jockey Club/French Derby winner and 1960 French champion sire Prince Chevalier). The next dam in Rainbow Connection’s tail-female line, Verdura (by Court Martial), is also the dam of 1956 Queen Mary Stakes winner Pharsalia (by Panorama), 1957 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Gratitude (by Golden Cloud), 1961 Cesarewitch Stakes winner Avon’s Pride (by Arctic Prince), 1968 Greenham Stakes winner Heathen (by Hethersett; a two-time champion sire in Uruguay), and 1970 Prix Vermeille winner Highest Hopes (by Heathersett).
Fun facts
Last updated: November 23, 2025
Race record
30 starts, 7 wins, 7 seconds, 0 thirds, US$382,126 (includes converted Canadian earnings)
1980:
- Won Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Natalma Stakes (CAN, 8FT, Woodbine
- Won Princess Elizabeth Stakes (CAN, 8.5FD, Woodbine)
- Won Yearling Sales Stakes (Fillies) (CAN, 7FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Selima Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Laurel)
1981:
- Won Bison City Stakes (CAN-R, 8.5FD, Fort Erie)
- Won Wonder Where Stakes (CAN-R, 10FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd Rothmans International Stakes (CAN-G1, 13FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd, Colonel R. S. McLaughlin Stakes (CAN, 9.5FD, Woodbine)
1982:
- 2nd La Canada Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd San Gorgonio Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Canadian Maturity Stakes (CAN-R, 10FT, Woodbine)
Honors
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 2-year-old filly (1980)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian champion 3-year-old filly (1981)
- Sovereign Award, Canadian Broodmare of the Year (1994)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1980, 1 pound below champion Heavenly Cause and tied with multiple Grade 1 winner Prayers'n Promises.
Rated at 125 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 2-year-old fillies, 6 pounds above Eternal Search, Happy Homemaker, and Muskoka Weekend.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1981, 11 pounds below highweighted Kilijaro and 9 pounds below divisional champion De La Rose.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for 3-year-old fillies of 1981, 5 pounds above Eternal Search and Happy Homemaker.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1981, 8 pounds below divisional champion Ben Fab.
Rated at 112 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1982, 16 pounds below champion April Run.
Rated at 118 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf runners of 1982, 16 pounds below divisional champion and Canadian Horse of the Year Frost King.
As an individual
A bay mare, Rainbow Connection was at her best around two turns and was at home on both dirt and turf.
As a producer
Rainbow Connection produced 10 named foals, of which nine started and won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Barari (1985, by Blushing Groom) never ran but is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner White Heart (by Green Desert) and listed stakes winner Kind Regards (by Unfuwain).
- Colour Chart (1987, by Mr. Prospector) won the 1990 CIGA Prix de l’ Opera (FR-G2) as well as two French Group 3 races. She is the dam of 2001 American champion juvenile filly Tempera (by A.P. Indy), multiple French Group 3 winner Equerry (by St. Jovite), and French listed stakes winner Ecole d’Art (by Theatrical). She is the second dam of 2010 Saudi Arabian champion older female Caprivi and the third dam of Grade 3 winner Fast Market.
- Rainbows for Life (1988, by Lyphard) was a three-time champion in Canada. He led the general sire list in the Czech Republic four times and was also champion sire in Slovakia in 1999.
- Always a Rainbow (1992, by Mr. Prospector) won the 1994 Cup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian-breds. He was sent to India for stallion duty.
- Rainbow’s Classic (1993, by Regal Classic) won one of her two starts. She is the dam of listed stakes winner Full Spectrum (by Broad Brush).
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Rainbow Connection was bred by Mrs. T. Coker and was owned by R. C. Edgar. She was trained by Gerald W. Belanger Jr. As a broodmare, she was initially owned by Warner L. Jones Jr. (Hermitage Farm) and William S. Farish III, the partnership that bred her first four foals. She was later owned by Sam-Son Farms, which purchased the mare for US$900,000 from the 1987 dispersal of Jones’s bloodstock, in foal to Lyphard. Rainbow Connection died of complications of foaling on May 8, 1994.
Pedigree notes
Rainbow Connection is inbred 4x5 to the important broodmare Banish Fear and 5x5 to the great English producer Selene, considered the champion of her crop in England at ages 2 and 3. She is a full sister to Rainbow Two, second dam of multiple Grade 2 winner City to City and a half sister to Hangin on a Star (by Vice Regent), who won the 1987 Breeders’ Stakes (third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown) and two other stakes races before becoming the dam of 1993 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Comet Shine (by Fappiano) and Misty Mission (by Miswaki), who took the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Wonder Where Stakes, in 2000. Hangin on a Star is also the second dam of two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission and Grade 3 winners French Beret and Patience Game and the third dam of Grade 2 winners Mission of Joy and Time to Dazzle.
Returning to Rainbow Connection, she is also a half sister to 1981 King Edward Gold Cup Handicap winner Mr. Macho (by Ruritania) and to Archdeacon (by Dancing Champ), winner of the 1983 Prince of Wales Stakes (second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown). The siblings were produced from 1980 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Hangin Round, a half sister to the minor stakes winner New Pride (by Julmar; dam of stakes winner Baldski’s Pride, by Baldski). Hangin Round is also a half sister to All Puffed Up (by Dynastic), dam of the minor stakes winner Dyna Surge (by Plastic Surgeon).
Hangin Round and her siblings are out of Auburn’s Pride, a daughter of 1954 English champion older male Aureole (by Hyperion) and 1957 Sandown Park Stud Produce Stakes winner Patroness (by 1946 Prix du Jockey Club/French Derby winner and 1960 French champion sire Prince Chevalier). The next dam in Rainbow Connection’s tail-female line, Verdura (by Court Martial), is also the dam of 1956 Queen Mary Stakes winner Pharsalia (by Panorama), 1957 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Gratitude (by Golden Cloud), 1961 Cesarewitch Stakes winner Avon’s Pride (by Arctic Prince), 1968 Greenham Stakes winner Heathen (by Hethersett; a two-time champion sire in Uruguay), and 1970 Prix Vermeille winner Highest Hopes (by Heathersett).
Fun facts
- The popular song “Rainbow Connection” was a top-40 hit on the American pop music chart in late 1979. Part of the soundtrack for The Muppet Movie, the song was sung by Kermit the Frog (voiced by Jim Henson) and expressed his innate optimism and his determination to chase his dreams. "Rainbow Connection" received an Academy Award nomination as Best Original Song and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2020.
Last updated: November 23, 2025